Improvement in electro-magnetic engines



W. WICKERSHAM.

Electra-Magnetic Engine.

Patented Oct. 15. 1867.

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lVlLLlAM WICKERSHAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 69,880, dated October 15, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTED-MAGNETIC ENGINES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I,Wn.r.r/\M Wrciinnsunr, of Tioston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Elcctro-Magnetic Engine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The first feature of my invention relates to the form of the helices, or a substitute for the helices of other clectro-magnctic engines, and consists of bars of copper, or other suitable metal, so formed that they may be attached to or in contact with a metallic plate at one end of the engine, and pass nearly round one or more clcctro-uiagncts in their extension towards the other end of said engine, and so constructed, with relation to th said elcctro-magnct, that when an electric current is caused to pass from one end to the other of said metallic bar, it will impart to or induce in the said electro mugnet a magnetic polarity.

The second feature of my invention relates to the manner of conducting the electricity through the engine, and consists of a metallic plate at one end of said engine, in electric connection with all the said metallic lars, which pass nearly round the clcctro-ruagnets, said plate being also in electric connection with one pole of the battery, and so constructed and arranged as to be a common receptacle of the electricity, which is divided into separate currents through said bars of metal, which said currents are cut off or'conneeted with the other pole of the battery, as may be desired at the opposite ends of said bars from said plate.

The third feature of my invention relates to the form and arrangement of theelectro-msgnets, and consists in making the soft iron elcctro-magnets of such form that they can become part of the rim of a fly-wheel, and attaching them to the outer edge of a. circular disk, through which a s'haft passes, all so constructed and arranged that the wrought-iron elcctro-magnets and similarly-formed .parts filling the spaces between them, made of some material not mngnetic, shal l form the rim of the fiy-wheel, and the rim and the said disk shall form the fiy-whcel, and this so fitted on to the shaft that, when said fly-wheel is made to revolve, said shaft will rotate also. v

The fourth feature ofmy invention relates to the openingzand closing of the electric currents which pass through said bars, and which give polarity to the electro-magnets, andjco nsists in having ,a cut-off or cut-offs revolve with the shaft, thereby causing the open circuits to continue the same positionary relation to the electro magnets while they revolve, and the same adjustment is continued. I

The fifth feature of my invention'r elates to the device, 'or its equivalent, by which the relation of the said open circuit or circuits of electricity to the elec ro-magnets may be changed while the engine is running; that is, they may be opened to and beyond one end of the electrmmagnets, so as to give said magnets the greatest power in that direction, or the said circuits may be opened at equal distance each way from the middle of said magne'ts, giving said magnets no tendency to revolve one way or the other, or they may be'open at the opposite end of said magnets to that first described, giving them the greatest power to revolve in the opposite direction, and these changes made at pleasure, whilesaid engine is running, and consists in having the instrument which opens and closes said circuits on a ring around the shaft, and attached to a tube also around the shaft, and in having in this tube spiral or screw-grooves, and in having slides in grooves in said shaft parallelto-its axis, containing pins, which work in said grooves in the tube, and arranged in sueh'a manner that when said slides are moved lengthwise of the shaft said pins will cause said tube to turn round relative to the shaft either way, as may be desired, and carry with it the cut-off instrument, thereby changing the open circuits back or forward relatively to the shaft and the electro-magnets. 7

ThcSixtlrfcaturo of my invention relates to the increase of power by ertension, and consists in so arranging and constructing my engine that two or anydesirable number of fly-wheels, containing electro-magnets, may be placed on the same shaft, and be operated by the same electric currents, and in this manner increasing the power by increasing the number of fly-wheels.

The seventh feature of my invention relates to the manner of securing the conducting-bars, which conduct electric currents around the elcctro magnets, and consists in having these said bars arranged around the shaft in groups, each group being held in its position independently of the others.

The eighth feature of my invention consists in having all the spaces between the said groups of electric the shaft, and-attached to the slides jj.

2 casao conductors in the engine filled up with blocks of suitable shape, by a metallic ring or rings.

I The ninth feature of my invention'relales to the. form of the eonductin thin and ribbon-like form, and in their arrangement in the engine, the other edge from said magnets.

and these supported and kept in their places g-bars, and consists in giving them a with one edge near the electro-magnets and Description.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation, with one end of the engine in sectior. in the line A, fig. 3, with a view of shaft, fly-wheel,,and conducting-bars, which nearly surround the rim of the fly-wheel, with the instrument for opening and closing the circuits, also the apparatus for changing the position of-this instrument on the shaft.

Figure 2 shows a horizontal section of the metallic plate, at one' outlet the engine, which receives the electricity from one pole of the battery, and distributes ii. .iirough different conducting-bars.

Figure 3 is an end elevation, showing the parts of the fly-wheel between the electro-magnets in section; also showing part of the elcctro-magne ts, conducting-bars, and framework in section, in the line F, fig. 1.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section in the line B, fig. 1,-of the shaft, a portion of the frame around the shaft, the ivory ring around this supporting the ends of the conducting-bars; also, it shows one group containing five of the conducting-bars, and the forms which represent all the groups.

Figure 5 shows two sections, in the lines 0 and D, fig. 5, of the instrument for cutting elf andopening the circuits; also shows five of the conducting-keys attached to the ends of the conducting-bars, together with the apparatus for changing the cut-oil instrument relative to the shaf Figure 6 shows a section of the forked lever, in the line E, fig. 5, and its connection with the apparatus for changing the cut-0B; also, it shows the connection of the wire from onepole of the battery, with the cut-oil arrangement. I

Figure 7 shows the relation of the position of the electro-magnets to that of the conducting-bars through which the circuit is open.

G is a frame on which the engine is hung. H is the shaft. of conducting-bars to keep them in their proper places. blocks I I, &c. L L are the electro-magnets. a a a, &e., are the conducting-bars. connected at one end.

I I I, &c., are pieces placed between the groups K K, &c., are rings surrounding and supporting the M M are the parts of the fly-wheel between the clectro-magnets. b is the metallic plate or receptacle, to which the conducting-bars are c is an India-rubber insulator. d is a wire connecting the receptacle 6 with the positive pole of the battery. e is the wireconnecting the cut-oil arrangement with the negative pole of the battery. ff are two posts supporting the wires d, &c. g is a post supporting the lever In. is a groove in a ringarouml k is a hollow cylinder around the shaft, and attached to the cut-off ring I, and which has the diagonal or screw-grooves m m in its sides. at is a silver ring, having one half of its length extend entirely round the ivory ring 6, where it connects with the negative pole through the wire e, as shown in the section on the'r'ed line D, and the other half of its lengthpxtends only part of the way round said ivory ring on two sides, or on the number of sides that there are electro-magnets in the ily-wheel, as shown in section in the red line C. o 0 0, &c., are the conducting-keyawhich are attached to the ends of the conductingbars, having one end ofeach'rest on the. part of the ring n which is intermittent, or which extends only part of the way round the ivory ring I. These conducting-keys are mndea little thinner in the middle, and so formed that they will have a'little spring force towardsthe ring to insure their contact. pp, &c., are the screws which hold the fly wheel together. q q, as, are the bolts which hold the rings is to the -framc. r r are the screws holding the plate 6 and the wire d in their places. aahre rings around the shaft supporting the blocks I I and the cohducting-bars on their edges next to the shaft; they also answer as boxes for the shaft to turn in. tis an ivory ring holding in position and at the same time insu lating the ends of the connecting-keys 0 0, which are attached to the ends of the conducting-bars a a.- I may remark here that all' parts through which the electric current passes are insulated. The wire dis wrapped with fine thread, except where it comes on to the plate 5. The screw r, which holds the wire don to the plate 6, has an insulated washer under its head. The plate 6 has a thin India-rubber sheet, 0, between it and the end of the engine. Each leaf of the conducting-bars a is coated with shellac or-India rubber, or wrapp'edwith thread. Also, the conducting-keys are insulated by being fixed in the ivory ring t, and by being coated withshellac, varnish, or some insulating substance, to prevent their contact with each other. i

' Having described the different parts of my electro-magnetic engine, I will proceed to explain its operation. The ccnducting wire dis connected with the positive pole of the, battery, and also with the disk 6, which disk is in electric connection with all the condncting-bars'a'a a, due. Now, as the condueting-wire e is in connection with the .negative polc of the battery, and also in contact with the silver ring 1:, it follows that the circuit will be open through all the conducting-bars which are in connection with-the silver ring 1:, as this makes a continuouametallic connection between the positiveaud negative poles of the battery. But, as the silver band n does not extend all the way round the ivory ring at the end whcre the conducting-keys 0 rest on it, (part of them resting on the ivory surface, which is a non-ocnductor,) it follows that the circuit is open only throu h a part of the conducting-bars; and if these bars through which the circuitil open pass around the clcotro-magnets, they will be charged with magnetism, and continue so to be whilc' the currents continue; but if these bars a a a, &c., are so situated, with relation to the position of the electro-magnets, that there are as many'on one.

side of their middlcs as on the opposite sides, as shown by the conducting-bars 1, 2, and 8, relative to the clcctro-magnet L, fig. 7, then the electro-tnagnet, though charged with mngnetismfwouldhave no tendency to revolve one way or the other, but if moved either way around its. axis would-tend to return to the position shown in the drawings, ifthe. circuit remained open through the same conducting-bars 1, 2, and 3. But suppose ee,sso 8 the silver ring or segmentnwere moved round to such position as-would open the circuit through the conductingbars 3, 4, and 5, and close them in those marked 1 and 2, there will be a strong tendency in the electro-magnet to more towards the position of the conducting-bars marked 5. Now,supp;1e that the electro-mngnet L has its position fixed on the revolving shaft H, and suppose, too, that the silver segment n has itsposition fixed on the same shaft, and so arranged that it will always open the circuit in the condncting-bars in advance of the electromagnet, and always close them as the middle of said electre-magnet approaches them, the tendency will be for the electro-mngnet to continue to revolve aroun'd'its axis, causing the shaft to rotate with it, and this is just what I do with regard to both elcctro-magncts, as shown in fig. 3. As there is a segment, 1; n, on each side of the ivory ring I, as shown at section on the line C, fig. 5, and by turning the silt-er segments from their middle position, as shown in fig. 7, with the open ,circuit through 1, 2, and 3, the opposite direction to that just described, the eleetro-magnets will be caused to revolve in an opposite direction.

These changes of the positions of the open circuits through my engine, relatively to the positions of the clectro-xnagnetsfrom u. coinciding position, causing the electro-magnets to remain in a state of rest topositions either side of this, causing the electro-magnets to revolve either way, are produced at pleasure by the mechanism shown in plan in fig. 5, and in section in fig. 1. p i

At the plan view at fig. 5 the mechanism is arranged for the middle or coinciding open cir uits. In this arrangement it will be seen that the ring containing the groove 1' is fastened by pins to the slides jj, as shown in fig. l, and the tube k, with the diagonal grooves m m, is attached to theivory ring 1, containing the silver band n, with its segments at one end, and all arranged in such manner that when he handle In, which turns upon the post g, is moved to the position It, the pins-u u more in the grooves m m, .causing the top of the tube It and the silver'band 'n and its segments to move in the direction of the' handle It, causing thereby the open circuits and the electro-mugnets to move in that direction, and, by moving said handle to the position It, the open circ'uite would be changed in the opposite direction, and the electro-magnets would revolve in the opposite direction.

In my drawings I have shown one group of the conducting-bars, as they extend down to the conductingkeys at a, fig.4; and at fig. 5, at a, I have shown one group of the conducting-keys; and at a a a, &c., fig. 4,

I have shown the'forins or spaces for'the conducting-bars all the way round.

I make the elcctro-magnets of the purest and softest wrought iron, and the parts M M between them, completing the rim of the fly-wheel, I malrepf brass, or any othei suitable composition which is not magnetic. The shai't'shouldbe made of composition of tin and copper, and perhaps the inside parts II and s s, and also the ring or case K, had better be made of the same material. The lower part of the frameG might be made of wood or composition and the posts of composition. The conducting-bars should be made of copper. Silvcr'will do as well, but is too costly. It will beseen that the wedge-shaped blocks I I, he, fit into small grooves in the rings a, and. in recesses in the case K at the other end. This is to give .them a lirm support, in order that the groups of conducting-bars may=be held steadily in their places.

' In my engine Ihave only a fraction of the 'distance for the electric current to travel, after it leaves the positive pole of the battery, until it reaches the negative pole, that exists in any engine that I know of, which I consider a feature of'great value, for the power of an electric current diminishes in'a'rapid rittie as the length of the conducting medium increases. I i

The ribbon-like form of my conducting-bars is of great value above the wire helices of other engines, as the greater portion of the electric current will pass through the edge of the conducting-bar a nearest the. electromagnet, which cannot'be the case in an engine using helices, asthe whole ofthe currentmust go through the outer portion as well as the inner portion in passing through the whole length'ofi-wire of which the helix in formed, and.this great advahtage becomes apparent when we consider that the power of an electro-magnet is in the inverse ratio of the square of the distance of the electric current which produces the magnetic force.

The dislr v, while it supports the electro-magnets, and connects them with the shaft, occupies but a small portion of the surface of said magnets, s t the same time giving: the great advantage of making it possible to use the conducting-bars'instend cf the helices; and making their short instead of great length, and talting all the advantages into account which my improvements give to the electromagnetic engine, I feel warranted in believing that they will enable it to compete very favorably with the steam engine.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. So forming metallic conductors in electro-magnetic engines, that in their extension from oneend to the other of said engine, they shall pass nearly round one or more electro-magnets, and so arranging them that when an electric current passes throughsaid' conducting-bars, it shall produce magnetic polarity in the said electro-magnets, substantially as described.

2. In combination with said metallic conductors, the arrangement of the receptacle 6, substantially-as and for the purpose described.

3.. So forming theelectro-magnet in an eleotro-magnotic engine that it may become a part of-the rim of a fly-wheel, and so arranging it on the outer odge'ot' a disk, in connectiouwith the-shaft, that when said rim revolvestho shaft will revolve also, as described."

4. The cut-oti.arranged and.constructed as described, in combination with the said metallic conductors playing over the interrupted pints of said cut-oil, as described.

5. Adjusting in eloctro-maguetic engines, while they are ii -motion, the relation of the circuits to the magnets, substantially as described, and for this purpose I claim the spiral slotted tube 1:, arranged and operated substantially asldescribed. I

6. In combination with said metallic conductors and magnetic fly-wheel, the arrangement of two or any desirable number of said fly-wheels on the same shaft, all operating together in the manner described. I

7. Arranging the eonducting-bars in groups around the shaft, and securing each group in its proper position independently of the others, as described.

8; Having the spaces: between the groupi of conducting-bars filled with blocks of the same form of said Spaces, and having said blocks secured in their places'by a metallic ring, K, as described.

9. Making said metallic conductors in a thin, ribbon-like form, having one edge near the said electromagnet and the other edge from said magnet, all substantially as described and fur the purpose set forth.

- WILLIAM WICKERSH A M. Witnesses:

A. I). PARKER, JOHN J. Lou. 

